<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A groom who is fighting for life in hospital after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/multiple-people-injured-in-mini-bus-crash-in-nsw-hunter-valley-regionx/ea21466a-6056-42a4-adee-3c67861f4995" rel="" target="" title="a minibus crashed on the way to his wedding"><span>a minibus crashed on the way to his wedding</span></a><span> has been identified as Cessnock man John Barrett.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barrett, 56, was riding with five others in the NSW Hunter Valley region yesterday when the bus rolled seven times down an embankment at Mount View about 10.30am.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It took paramedics 45 minutes to cut free one of the six occupants, which included Barrett and the driver.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-suspects-forced-to-reenact-deadly-bali-shooting/f6cb31da-b1bb-405b-bea1-103166ce6885" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australian suspects forced to re-enact alleged Bali killing</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barrett, a father of four, was mere hours away from marrying his fiancée Michelle Murphy when the bus crashed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was taken to hospital in a critical condition with injured limbs along with a 60-year-old man who suffered head injuries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were treated by a specialist team on the ground before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/hunter-valley-wedding-mini-bus-crash-bride-and-groom-identified-as-groom-fights-for-life/adf435b3-2e5e-48e1-a54d-c01396b711a2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The four other men suffered more minor injuries and were transported by ambulance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is understood some of those on board were Barrett's groomsmen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barrett was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and his family had been raising money in support of Professor Dominic Rowe, who runs clinical trials for the disease at Macquarie University.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/millions-of-commuters-to-get-free-travel/6202a8b7-754d-41af-8e58-e5bf795faebc" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions of Sydney commuters ride free as gates turned off</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This cause is deeply personal to us. As many of you would know John was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND)," a fundraiser for Barrett reads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While we are adjusting to this unfamiliar journey together John was quite clear that he wanted to do what he could to raise funds in support of Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Taxi Council chief executive Nick Abrahim said the manager of the taxi business spoke at the scene with the driver, who had some injuries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He did seem ok," Abrahim told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're just grateful that everybody was able to get out."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said the driver will undergo mandatory blood and alcohol testing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-earthquake-tsunami-warnings-when-will-it-hit-everything-to-know-explained/38eaf85f-6298-46ea-9860-59bc6773ef0d" target="_blank"><strong><span>What we know about the massive Russian earthquake and Pacific tsunami</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police yesterday described the crash as "tragic".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a tragic situation, they hadn't actually got to the wedding yet, so they still have a wedding in front of them," NSW Police Superintendent Steve Laksa said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're very fortunate that the injuries weren't fatal. It definitely could've been worse."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The incident follows the wedding bus crash in the Hunter Valley in June 2023 which killed 10 people and injured 25.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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